Elizabeth I Quotes & Sayings

I cannot find it in me to fear a man who took ten years a learning of his alphabet. — Elizabeth I

I would rather go to any extreme than suffer anything that is unworthy of my reputation, or of that of my crown. — Elizabeth I

Eyes of youth have sharp sight but commonly not so deep as those of elder age. — Elizabeth I

I don't keep a dog and bark myself. — Elizabeth I

Grief never ends, but it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness nor a lack of faith: it is the price of love. — Elizabeth I

For, what is a family without a steward, a ship without a pilot, a flock without a shepherd, a body without a head, the same, I think, is a kingdom without the health and safety of a good monarch. — Elizabeth I

I have never been able to be so allured by the prospect of advantages or so terrified by misfortunes, swayed by honours or fettered by affection, nay not even so smitten by the fear of death, as to enter upon marriage. — Elizabeth I

[On Thomas Seymour's death:] This day died a man of much wit and very little judgment. — Elizabeth I

This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. — Elizabeth I

I pluck up the good lissome herbs of sentences by pruning, eat them by reading, digest them by musing, and lay them up at length in the high seat of memory. — Elizabeth I

Mr. Doctor, that loose gown becomes you so well I wonder your notions should be so narrow. — Elizabeth I

[On being told Mary, Queen of Scots, was taller than she:] Then she is too high, for I myself am neither too high nor too low. — Elizabeth I

There is one thing higher than Royalty: and that is religion, which causes us to leave the world, and seek God. — Elizabeth I

I plucke up the goodlie greene herbes of sentences by pruning, eat them by reading, chawe them by musing, and laie them up at length in the hie seate of memorie by gathering them together; that I, having tasted the sweetenes, l may the lesse perceave the bitternes of this miserable life. — Elizabeth I

Had I been crested, not cloven, my Lords, you had not treated me thus. — Elizabeth I

Life is for living and working at. If you find anything or anybody a bore, the fault is in yourself. — Elizabeth I

He that will forget God, will also forget his benefactors. — Elizabeth I

I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too. — Elizabeth I

It is good to jest, but not to make a trade of jesting. — Elizabeth I

Chastity is the ermine of woman's soul. — Elizabeth I

I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king — Elizabeth I

O Fortune, how thy restless, wavering state has fraught with cares my troubled wit! — Elizabeth I

A good face is the best letter of recommendation. — Elizabeth I

God forgive you, but I never can. — Elizabeth I

The stone often recoils on the head of the thrower. — Elizabeth I

Of myself I must say this, I never was any greedy, scraping grasper, nor a strait fast-holding prince, nor yet a master; my heart was never set on worldly goods, but only for my subjects' good. — Elizabeth I

I have the heart of a man, not a woman, and I am not afraid of anything. — Elizabeth I

Though I am not imperial, and though Elizabeth may not deserve it, the Queen of England will easily deserve to have an emperor's son to marry. — Elizabeth I

Where minds differ and opinions swerve there is scant a friend in that company. — Elizabeth I

Much suspected by me, Nothing proved can be — Elizabeth I

My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourself to armed multitudes for fear of treachery; but I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people ... I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any Prince of Europe should dare to invade the borders of my realm. — Elizabeth I

[When opposed by leaders of her Council:] I will make you shorter by the head! — Elizabeth I

I shall lend credit to nothing against my people which parents would not believe against their own children. — Elizabeth I

I regret the unhappiness of princes who are slaves to forms and fettered by caution. — Elizabeth I

I am no lover of pompous title, but only desire that my name may be recorded in a line or two, which shall briefly express my name, my virginity, the years of my reign, the reformation of religion under it, and my preservation of peace. — Elizabeth I

I am more afraid of making a fault in my Latin than of the Kings of Spain, France, Scotland, the whole House of Guise, and all of their confederates. — Elizabeth I

It is hard to find beauty in the art of self expression. — Elizabeth I

Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths. — Elizabeth I

Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: That I have reigned with your loves. — Elizabeth I

There is small disproportion betwixt a fool who useth not wit because he hath it not and him that useth it not when it should avail him. — Elizabeth I

I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception. — Elizabeth I

No foteball player be used or suffered within the City of London and the liberties thereof upon pain of imprisonment. — Elizabeth I

Proud Prelate, you know what you were before I made you what you are. If you do not immediately comply with my request I will unfrock you by God! — Elizabeth I

The past can not be cured. — Elizabeth I

Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak you will nevertheless find me a rock that bends to no wind. — Elizabeth I

[F]rom my years of understanding ... I happily chose this kind of life in which I yet live [i.e., unmarried], which I assure you for my own part hath hitherto best contented myself and I trust hath been most acceptable to God. From the which if either ambition of high estate offered to me in marriage by the pleasure and appointment of my prince ... or if the eschewing of the danger of my enemies or the avoiding of the peril of death ... could have drawn or dissuaded me from this kind of life, I had not now remained in this estate wherein you see me. But so constant have I always continued in this determination ... yet is it most true that at this day I stand free from any other meaning that either I have had in times past or have at this present. — Elizabeth I

For it is monstrous that the feet should direct the head. — Elizabeth I

It is a natural virtue incident to our sex to be pitiful of those that are afflicted. — Elizabeth I

There is nothing in the world I hold in greater horror than to see a body moving against its head: and I shall be very careful notto ally myself with such a monster. — Elizabeth I

He who placed me in this seat will keep me here. — Elizabeth I

I will be as good unto ye as ever a Queen was unto her people. No will in me can lack, neither do I trust shall there lack any power. And persuade yourselves that for the safety and quietness of you all I will not spare if need be to spend my blood. — Elizabeth I

We Princes are set as it were upon stages, in the sight and view of all the world. The least spot is soon spied in our garments, a blemish quickly noticed in our doings. — Elizabeth I

Who seeketh two strings to one bow, they may shoot strong, but never straight ... — Elizabeth I

Answer on being asked her opinion of Christ's presence in the Sacrament. 'Twas God the word that spake it, He took the Bread and brake it; And what the word did make it That I believe, and take it. — Elizabeth I

I would gladly chastise those who represent things as different from what they are. Those who steal property or make counterfeit money are punished, and those ought to be still more severely dealt with who steal away or falsify the good name of a prince. — Elizabeth I

Although my royal rank causes me to doubt whether my kingdom is not more sought after than myself, yet I understand that you havefound other graces in me. — Elizabeth I

I would not open windows into men's souls. — Elizabeth I

There is nothing about which I am more anxious than my country, and for its sake I am willing to die ten deaths, if that be possible. — Elizabeth I

I will have but one mistress and no master — Elizabeth I

I may not be a lion,but I am lions cub and I have lion's heart — Elizabeth I

My mortal foe can no ways wish me a greater harm than England's hate; neither should death be less welcome unto me than such a mishap betide me. — Elizabeth I

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all. — Elizabeth I

Let the good service of well-deservers be never rewarded with loss. Let their thanks be such as may encourage more strivers for the like. — Elizabeth I

One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without. — Elizabeth I

Be always faithful to me, as I always desire to keep you in peace; and if there have been wiser kings, none has ever loved you more than I have. — Elizabeth I

The name of a successor is like the tolling of my own death-bell! — Elizabeth I

I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive. — Elizabeth I

There is a close tie of affection between sovereigns and their subjects; and as chaste wives should have no eyes but for their husbands, so faithful liegemen should keep their regards at home and not look after foreign crowns. For my part I like not for my sheep to wear a stranger's mark nor to dance after a foreigner's whistle. — Elizabeth I

I have no desire to make windows into mens souls. — Elizabeth I

If I follow the inclination of my nature, it is this: beggar-woman and single, far rather than queen and married. — Elizabeth I

The true sin against the Holy Ghost is ingratitude. — Elizabeth I

My seat has been the seat of kings, and I will have no rascal to succeed me. — Elizabeth I

And therefore I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too. — Elizabeth I

I would not have my sheep branded with any other mark than my own, or follow the whistle of a strange shepherd. — Elizabeth I

When I was fair and young, and favor graced me,
Of many was I sought, their mistress for to be;
But I did scorn them all, and answered them therefore,
Go, go, go seek some otherwhere!
Importune me no more! — Elizabeth I

[I]n the end this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a Queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin. — Elizabeth I

I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a people. — Elizabeth I

God has given such brave soldiers to this Crown that, if they do not frighten our neighbours, at least they prevent us from being frightened by them. — Elizabeth I

I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England. — Elizabeth I

I observe and remain silent. — Elizabeth I

Anger will make a dull man witty, but very little money. — Elizabeth I

Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects. — Elizabeth I

Affection! Affection is false. — Elizabeth I

Those who appear the most sanctified are the worst. — Elizabeth I

Kings were wont to honour philosophers, but if I had such I would honour them as angels that should have such piety in them that they would not seek where they are the second to be the first, and where the third to be the second and so forth. — Elizabeth I

If I should say the sweetest speech with the eloquentest tongue that ever was in man, I were not able to express that restless care which I have ever bent to govern for the greatest wealth. — Elizabeth I

There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles. — Elizabeth I

I grieve and dare not show my discontent,
I love and yet am forced to seem to hate,
I do, yet dare not say I ever meant,
I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate.
I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned,
Since from myself another self I turned.
My care is like my shadow in the sun,
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done. — Elizabeth I

I find that I sent wolves not shepherds to govern Ireland, for they have left me nothing but ashes and carcasses to reign over! — Elizabeth I

There is no marvel in a woman learning to speak, but there would be in teaching her to hold her tongue — Elizabeth I

To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it. — Elizabeth I

I do not want a husband who honours me as a queen, if he does not love me as a woman. — Elizabeth I

[To Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, on his return from self-imposed exile, occasioned by the embarrassing flatulence he had experienced in the presence of the Queen:] My Lord, I had forgot the fart. — Elizabeth I

Be of good cheer, for you will never want, for the bullet was meant for me, though it hit you. — Elizabeth I

As for me, I see no such great cause why I should either be fond to live or fear to die. I have had good experience of this world, and I know what it is to be a subject and what to be a sovereign. Good neighbours I have had, and I have met with bad: and in trust I have found treason. — Elizabeth I

A strength to harm is perilous in the hand of an ambitious head. — Elizabeth I

All my possessions for a moment of time. — Elizabeth I

A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing — Elizabeth I

Young heads take example of the ancient — Elizabeth I

A fool too late bewares when all the peril is past. — Elizabeth I